FROM THE BRIDGEPORT HISTORY CENTER: A Queen Anne landmark

Friday, 12 March 2010 19:23

The Barnum/Thompson and Staples Building at 177-189 State St. opened in 1892 and was designed by architect George Longstaff. It was the last building contracted by P.T. Barnum before his death in 1891. In 1901, the Buckingham, Brewer and Platt Co, occupied the top floor.

For many years, the second floor was used as the billiard room for the Algonquin Club, which had its headquarters next door in the Court Exchange Building.

In 1941, People’s Savings Bank razed a section of the building fronting Court Street (now Markle Court) to build a parking lot. The rest of the building still stands, housing the Playhouse on the Green, retail space and offices.

(Photo courtesy of the Bridgeport History Center, Bridgeport Public Library; text by Mary K Witkowski, Bridgeport city historian)